The Trouble Maker: Redemption in the Ruthless Classroom

er unfairly handed out

led the principal's

ped me hard across the face. "You little troublemaker! Instead

sipping his coffee, and the two of them

eria, Garth and Kaylee showed up at my house groveling

"Remember me? I'm that tr

on this problem. Could

feeling a bit sheepish. I'd asked her about this same

ur

English homework she was doing and started walk

f a month, and in that time

n class, but with her help, I was

grinding through practice problems in the classroom af

me, and I'd gotten a lot more

all with a question, she'd take time out of her own sche

g over this with you helps me lock it

my guilt every time I f

help but feel lucky to have such a s

ery way, except her f

m rented a place near Silver Creek High School, but her mom was too sick to handle

te, but Zoe could only afford one. Hers was so faded fr

her back. "Zoe, can't you change your clot

, gripping her pen as she stammered, "My cl

hat stink's probably from the pigpens and chicken coops back

, but they still rolled down her f

at from basketball every day, so bad even cracking the windows doesn't help. I can't even focus in class! Go home and scrub yoursel

They muttered awkwa

, but handing her money wasn't an option. At our age, pr

acks to school, slipping them to her ca

ter than any tutor. If you don't take this

tly take them after I stuffe

r face heavy with worry. Even in class, where she n

mething up at home?" I asked

n't come through yet, and she's too scared to spend anything. She keeps delayin

ation, you're definitely on the scholarship list. Health comes first, tell your mom to see a docto

too nervous about spending. I've begged her over and

xious for her too. All I could do was

t before dismissal, Kaylee walked in

scholarships. I breathed a sigh of relief and gave Zoe's hand a

e a wire lately, and now sh

throat, her eyes

hoices are well thought out and totally fair. The students I name s

d, my eyes widened. Zo

ears. No scholarship meant her mom would keep putti

the poorest among us, and her grades were top-notch, no flaws

em was hard up. Jessie's family even ran a

dwell on it, so I tu

Get your mom to a doctor!

just stared down, digging

chance to cover her mom's bills, but I'd offered before,

out the scholarship mes

rough as her, and their grad

ared? They were pros a

thirties and loved dolling up, always strutt

back, piling on the flattery. "Kaylee, you look fre

there! I'd say she looks younger than

Kaylee, if you sat with us, no

You guys sure know how to talk. If you put half that effort

th Jake, Kevan,

use of cramps, Kaylee either shot it down or got snarky. "Oh, wha

it go, sometimes joking with them in the office. "You boys are slick, huh? Eve

ot. Kaylee had obviously handed the scholarsh

hange, but for Zoe's fa

sick, too afraid

she'd been to me, a spark of justice lit up

laint hotline for the principal's office posted b

y door, grabbed my phone, and

ting something like this,

eep, middle-aged voice pick

oval, the Class 3 senior teacher. She's misusing her position, rigging the s

righteous fire and spilled every detail abo

e said, "Alright, I'll check it out. Can you

te and gave him

showed up with r

ll night, and it hurt

to get medicine, but she wouldn't go. I didn't dare tell h

cked, still r

l get into a great college. The scholarship's not

o I kept the call under wraps

indow, hoping Garth or some higher-up wou

Instead, the face I co

a! Offi

her voice dripping with ir

rted whispering, tryin

ormed off. The moment I stepped into the

aw Garth sittin

la

it my cheek, knocking me back a few step